This week in Island history Compiled by Sue Maden Week of June 29

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from theJamestown Press. The news of 25, 50, 75, and 100 yearsago from the Newport Daily News comes from the collectionof the Newport Historical Society.

100 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, June 25, 1906:

Mr. Mason of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company is in town, superintending the erection of the line from Fox Hill to Bull's Point.

From the Newport Daily News, June 29, 1906:

Manager Kinney of the Thorndike has secured the services of an orchestra for his house, especially for concert purposes during the evening dinner hour, a feature new to the hotel business here, and one which seems to be meeting with success by the number of bookings for that hour in July and August.

75 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, June 24, 1931:

A petition presented by Stanley Narus and signed by a large number of the residents of the town and the summer colony, protesting the issuing of a license to out-of-town bakers to peddle from house to house, and requesting the rescinding of same, was received and recorded and laid on the table for further consideration.

From the Newport Daily News, June 25, 1931:

(At the school committee meeting) a delegation of parents of pupils in the graduating class was present. Charles H. Brooks, in behalf of this group, requested that the ninth grade in Jamestown be abolished and that the pupils be permitted to go directly from the eighth grade in Jamestown to Rogers High School in Newport. (They voted that the matter be postponed for one week.)

From the Newport Daily News, June 29, 1931:

Double service went into effect on the ferries Saturday morning, with Steamers Governor Carr and Jamestown plying between Jamestown and Newport, and the Hammonton and Beavertail running between West Jamestown and Saunderstown.

The celebration of the Feast of the Holy Ghost Society was held at the hall of the society on Narragansett avenues yesterday. . . . a barbecue was served to nearly 600 guests.

The Jamestown Casino will open on Friday evening for the season. Edward Cox of Newport will be the manager, and the Majestic orchestra of Newport has been engaged for the summer. Dances will be held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Monday evening being the children's night.

Another running board accident occurred yesterday afternoon.

50 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, June 26, 1956:

Dr. Alfred B. Gobeille, Jamestown Town Council president, told the council at its meeting last night, he did not believe the present tax rate of $31 per thousand, the limit under the state law, should be changed. . . . Gobeille added "we are only assessed at 40 per cent of the fair value and I don't know of any tax assessor who wants to double the cost of valuation." The present assessment presents a false picture, he said, and if assessed for the full valuation the tax rate should be $20.

25 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, June 24. 1981:

The Zoning Board of Review Tuesday night granted Estes-Burgin Partnership a regulatory variance to restore the Hunt Block on Narragansett Avenue and to add a second and third floor for four apartments.

From the Newport Daily News, June 27, 1981:

The state Department of Transportation has asked the Federal Highway Administration to approve a proposed location for a new Jamestown Bridge and for authority to start construction designs.

15 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press, June 27, 1991:

The Town Council Monday night approved a list of road maintenance and drainage projects to be carried out from July until the end of summer. (There was about $20,000 in the budget for road improvements.)

Nine options were offered as alternatives to the tabled Helm Street overpass for the cross-island connector road as the Jamestown Design Study Committee's June 20 meeting.

Photo caption: The Class of 1991 graduated from the Jamestown School last week (June 18).

10 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press, June 27, 1996:

Jamestown School Principal and Superintendent Phyllis Schmidt Monday announced her intent to retire in a letter to the Jamestown School Committee. . . . Schmidt, the principal of the Jamestown School for 17 years, wrote in her letter, "I truly love Jamestown and the Jamestown School."

The second annual Ferry Days celebration this weekend promises plenty of old-fashioned fun for the whole family. Sponsored by the Jamestown Village Association, events get underway Saturday at 10 a.m.

Jamestown's first public fireworks display in 25 years will light up the sky this Tuesday evening. The July 2 display will start at 9:15 p.m. at Mackerel Cove.